DEAR HARRIETTE: Last weekend, my friends and I went to a party while visiting colleges. Since we are only juniors in high school, we have never really been to this type of party, and we were kind of nervous. Once we got there, we were confronted by a group of drunken guys. I do not drink very much myself, so I felt uncomfortable when they asked to get us drinks. I was peer-pressured into having this mixed drink that was being served, and I do not really remember the rest of the night. My friends told me the next morning that these guys had slipped something into my drink, which caused me to black out. I am very upset about this because I did not want to drink in the first place. My friends said they didn't allow the guys to take advantage of me, but still, I am upset with them. How do I address the fact that I am thankful, yet disappointed? -- Distraught Friend, Austin, Texas
DEAR DISTRAUGHT FRIEND: You have every reason to be upset. This was a very dangerous situation that could have turned out much worse. Rather than scolding your friends, you need to review your own personal checklist of things you will and will not do. Among them is the most difficult -- not succumbing to peer pressure. Call yourself the designated driver when you go to parties and choose not to drink, even if you aren't driving. Your friends will get the point. When you do want to drink, consume only drinks that you see made by a bartender or that you see poured out of a bottle. Do not ever drink the punch at a party. Do not have your friends or anyone else get a drink for you. Make it your policy to see the origin of the drink. That will help to reduce the chances of such folly in the future.